devastating the environment there. tourism costing many people their jobs, as well. cnn's ed lavandera saw the devastation firsthand when he covered the story. ed, as, of course, we wait eric holder's arrival, i'll let you proceed and may have to interrupt you as soon as he is to enter the room. so, what kind of reaction is there from this $4 billion planned settlement? >> reporter: well, i think a lot of people in the gulf coast region trying to figure out what all of this means and the money will be parcelled out. >> all right. sorry about that, ed. you have to hold that thought there. here's u.s. attorney general eric holder. >> i'm honored to join with associate attorney general tony west, assistant attorney general for the criminal division of the justice department lanny brewer, director robert casami of the security and exchange division, john beretta, head of the de deepwater horizon and achieving justice for those whose lives and livelihoods were impacted by the largest environmental disaster in the history of the united states. and to hold accountable -- ho